Volume 12 | December 01, 2018
Your Monthly News & Updates
President's Post
Valued Chamber Member,

This is my last President’s letter to you. I want to thank you for your support and wish all of you much success in you businesses for 2019. We have learned from history that any community without commerce does not succeed. We have seen how communities that sprung up alongside the canals slowly disseminated when the train came through and roads were built. We have seen the same happen, when interstates were built and the traffic moved off the two lane highways to the much faster interstates. We need to learn from history or we are comdemed to relive it. We are blessed to have a new interstate beside our community and with that said our commerce is going very well in Defiance. Again, without commerce our communities would not continue to thrive. 

With that, all said I urge you to shop and buy local. Investing in your community in investing in yourselves.
 
Please stay involved in your local Chamber and community. As I travel around Northwest Ohio, we have so many good things going for us in Defiance. Many in other communities envy us and how our downtown and rivers look. We are the shopping hub of Northwest Ohio. Many have come together to make this possible. 

Please watch your Chamber newsletters for the dates and locations of events coming in 2019.

Thank you all very much for supporting our Chamber and I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!


Darrell Handy
President/CEO
Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce
Season of Giving
Ribbon Cutting
Hoopster's Place
Please join the
Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce for
a Ribbon Cutting

Monday, December 10th
3:00pm

at

Hoopster's Place
501 W. Second St.
Employee Handbooks Webinar
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS WEBINAR
PRESENTED BY:
The Employers' Association
December 5th, 2018
8:00 AM- 9:30 AM
This webinar will outline the essential policies for your business. Whether you already have a handbook in place or are looking to create one, this presentation will provide valuable insights and guidance on the policies you need now. Areas covered in the webinar include:
  • How to prepare an employee handbook or review your current employee handbook carefully to determine how it needs to be updated.
  • An overview of the different sections and policies contained within an employee handbook
DCCC Events
Tinsel & Tail's
Holiday Gala
Annual Wall Calendars
The 2019 Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce Community Calendar's will be ready for pick up on Friday, December 7th, 2018. Stop by our office at 325 Clinton St. or give us a call at 419-782-7946 to get your calendar!
Coffee With a Cop
Office Closed
2019
Officers
Board of Directors
Staff
Chair:   Melanie Rittenour, Promedica Defiance Regional Hospital
 
Vice Chair : Chris Switzer, Sam Switzer Realty
 

Past Chair : Dawn Ludwig, Genesis Healthcare
 
Treasurer : Kelly Rashley, First Federal Bank

Secretary : Sue Strausbaugh, BIGGBY Coffee

Director:   Andrew Weisgerber, First Insurance Group
 
Director:   Darryl Herron, GM Powertrain

Director:   Phil Constein, Midwest Federal Credit Union

Director:  William Sholl, Defiance College
 
Director:  Caryn McCoy, SensoryEffects

Director:   Kendra Limber, Limber Auctioneering
 
Director:   Ray Meiers, Black, McCuskey, Souers & Arbaugh, L.P.A
 
Director : Shaun Mack, Farmers & Merchants State Bank
 
Director:  Steve Furnas, Defiance County Prosecutors Office

Director:  Adam Donaldson. Arps Dairy, Inc
 
Director:  Rob Bourn,Shultz Huber & Associates, Inc.
 
Marketing & Events Coordinator : Jenna Peper
First Friday Luncheon
Friday, January 4th
12:00-1:00 PM

January Keynote Speaker
Doug Bush
Promedica Defiance Regional Hospital

Tickets to attend the event are $15.00



RESERVATION DEADLINE
January 3rd!
Business After Hours
Thursday, January 17th
5:00-7:00 PM
Sponsor: Ameriprise Financial Malhoit & Associates

Host & Caterer: Kissner's Restaurant
Chamber Gift Certificate Program
The Chamber's Gift Check program is available to all Chamber members as a benefit of your membership.  How would you like to give and/ or receive a gift certificate redeemable at local businesses including restaurants, specialty shops, and so much more? Well, the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificates can do just that while keeping your hard earned dollars in our local economy!  These make perfect gifts for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Holidays, Employee Appreciation or any special occasion. ​
​
Benefits in Participating:
Included in your annual dues, your business is automatically enrolled in the Chamber Gift Certificate Program.

  • It’s good for our Chamber as we are able to offer an additional benefit at no charge to our members while promoting the local community.
  • It’s good for our members as they take advantage of a free benefit that is designed to drive traffic through member’s doors as a result of our promotion and advertising of the program.
  • It is great for our community, as this program promotes shopping local!

Follow the Chamber on Linkedin
Follow the Chamber on Linkedin!
The Chamber is excited to announce it has joined the professional social networking group, Linkedin! Please feel free to click on the badge below and it will direct you to our public page. This is a great opportunity to network with other Chamber members and see what they are doing in their careers and track the success of their companies!